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A BRAVE SOLDIER’S PURPLE HEART STORY

 

Blog Post 7 of 11


He was in his early twenties, the prime of his life, when he was shipped off to a foreign country.  A different world for him with a culture and language just as unfamiliar.  But he wasn’t there to sight see, enjoy the culinary delicacies of this foreign land, nor did he have ample time to get to know his surroundings, the people or their customs. 
No, at this young age the man found himself pinned down in an embattled trench that he shared with his Army comrades of the 34th Infantry Division in the Battle of Anzio, Italy.  This was a battle that would last four month from January 22 until May 23rd of 1944.  More than 7,000 American soldiers would perish and another 36,000 wounded.
He and his comrades were dug in, surrounded by three enemy nests.  The enemy had machine guns blasting and snipers relentlessly firing upon them.  It would only be a matter of time before dire circumstances would befall them unless they took immediate action.
He knew what had to be done and he willingly volunteered to take the necessary action to save his comrades.  With his rifle before him and loaded with grenades on his vestment, he courageously began crawling out of the safety of the furrow his company was trapped in, onto the flat, open terrain, all while the enemy hailed a barrage of bullets towards him.



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THE SOLDIER'S RETURN Blog 10 Post of 11 The young man, gravely injured during the Battle of Anzio in Italy, returned to the United States where he would receive the military’s highest award for his conspicuous gallantry at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.  S/Sgt. George John Hall of Stoneham, Massachusetts, an undeniable hero of WWII.  His citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Attacking across flat, open terrain under direct enemy observation, S/Sgt. Hall’s company was pinned down by grazing fire from 3 enemy machine guns  and harassing sniper fire. S/Sgt. Hall volunteered to eliminate these obstacles in the path of advance. Crawling along a plowed furrow through furious machine gun fire, he made his way to a point within hand grenade range of 1 of the enemy positions. He pounded the enemy with 4 hand grenades, and when the smoke had died away, S/Sgt. Hall and 2 de...
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